Bathroom design and layout

From traditional Victorian bathrooms to futuristic modern designs to zen retreats; the range of bathroom styles today is astonishing. Looking at a bathroom magazine or around a showroom will give you some ideas for a look that suits you.

Bathroom space

Most homeowners are restricted in their bathroom design by space. With the average bathroom measuring 2.4m (8ft) x 1.8m (6ft) you might think there is little you can do to change the bathroom. However, an illusion of space can be created by following a few basic principles:

Keep fixtures small. If you want a toilet with an accessible cistern, opt for one with a slim-line or wall-mounted cistern. Pick a shallow basin or a small countertop basin.

Consider replacing the bath with a shower. Walk-in showers or wet rooms with glass screens also add to the sense of space. By building a false wall or partition, you can separate it from fixtures on the same wall.

If you like to soak in a bath, consider installing a combined shower bath. Place a roll-top bath in the middle of the room to make space around it and give it a sculptural significance.

Mirrors make a room seem bigger. Place them opposite windows to reflect light back into the room. Strangely, large mirrors do not make a room seem cluttered but have the opposite effect of suggesting space. Choose bathroom cabinets with mirrored fronts.

Pale flooring and walls will make the room seem larger and brighter.

Get rid of clutter. Keep all your toiletries hidden away in a cupboard and place only a select few items in attractive bottles out on display.

Bright and bold statements that would look garish in a large bathroom can work very well in a small space.

Vertical radiators take up less space, are more attractive than the traditional kind and can be a feature of the bathroom.

If the bathroom is next to your bedroom, then you may consider an open plan bath/bedroom, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Bathroom layout

The layout for your bathroom will depend on the shape of the room. Draw a scaled plan on graph paper and cut out scale drawings of the bathroom fixtures to see where they fit best. Start with the bath and move on to smaller fixtures.

An L-shaped bathroom usually has the vanity or basin and the toilet along one side wall, with the bath against the back wall. This arrangement is cost-effective as supply and drainage pipes can be in the same wall as the other fixtures.

A corridor bathroom typically has the bath along one side wall and the basin and toilet along the opposite wall.

A U-shaped bathroom has fixtures on three walls; it generally gives the most spacious appearance, but also requires a relatively large, square room.

Bathroom functionality

Reviewing your bathroom requirements is an important step of designing any bathroom. You will need to consider your long term needs because bathrooms are not usually renovated often.

Wet rooms

A Wet room is an open shower area with a waste that drains directly into the floor, without a shower tray. Wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, allowing you to build a spacious shower that blends naturally with the rest of the room. Small bathrooms benefit from the lack of enclosure. Large bathrooms can be made to feel like a spa with body jets, different floor levels, wet and dry areas, and underfloor heating.

His and hers

Many couples prefer to have separate his and hers basins, or even separate bathrooms, to prevent the morning crush in the bathroom. If you want a shower and a bath in your house but have small rooms, you might consider turning a small storage or guest room into a second bathroom. To add a second basin, the most common design places the basins side by side in the same countertop with matching mirrors above. You might also consider building a small partition with basins wall-mounted on either side. Or you could build an island unit with basins set opposite each other, perhaps with mirrors suspended from the ceiling in the middle to divide the space.

Storage

When designing your bathroom, consider how much space you need for all your toiletries, towels etc. Vanity units are a good idea if you need a lot of storage space and can double up as basin countertops. You could combine these with matching wall-mounted units with mirrors set in them. Alternatively, bathroom cabinets come in a range of styles, including mirror-fronted cabinets, which can be recessed. If you need clothes storage space; surround fitted cupboards with stone to blend them with the bathroom. You could make the cupboard double up as a partition wall for the shower. Make use of the space in your room, turning alcoves and airing cupboards into storage spaces. You may even be able to squeeze a little extra storage under the bath.